DEAN Gerken says he snubbed offers from other clubs this summer because he feels he has his best chance of achieving success at Colchester United.

The 34-year-old has returned to the U’s after a ten-year absence after leaving Ipswich Town, at the end of last season.

Gerken, who made 127 appearances for Colchester before leaving them for Bristol City in 2009, helped the U’s win a historic promotion during his first spell at the club.

And as he prepares to line up for the U’s against his former club Ipswich in a friendly tonight, the popular shot-stopper says he is aiming for a successful second stint at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Gerken said: “I had offers from League One and League Two clubs but this was the best opportunity for me to have a successful time and getting a club that I care for into a position where we should be.

“I always felt that I left Colchester with unfinished business.

“At the time, I never really got the chance to say goodbye and it was a quick turnaround of events when I left.

“Hopefully I’m in a situation now where I tail off the end of my career having a successful time here.

“When I left Colchester, we were still getting changed (at the stadium) in the morning and driving to the Garrison and everything like that so the whole club in general has stepped up.

“Now the final marking is to get them into the league that they deserve to be in now.

“I hope I can bring a promotion and get them back to somewhere they deserve to be really.

“When you look around, it’s got all of the facilities and everything like that to be in a better position than it is league wise.

“That’s what I’m here to do and that’s what I’m striving for - that’s what I think everyone is striving for here.

“I’m here to help out the young boys as well and bring them on to push me.

“I’m a bit more experienced – I’m not saying more mature!”

Gerken’s return to Colchester was officially announced by the League Two club, last weekend.

However, he had been training with the U’s prior to that – and revealed it had been on the cards from the end of last month.

“I’ve got a neighbour over the road who’s a Colchester fan and he was saying it from early May," added Gerken.

"But I never heard anything from Colchester until towards the back end of June really.

“So it hasn’t been in the pipeline long but had been training with them for a couple of weeks, so it’s the worst-kept secret really.”